Below are the 65 spectacular finalists across all six categories, each vying for the coveted title Nikon Photographer of the Year, the Tamron Young Photographer of the Year Award, and the Resene Colour Award. Now, it’s your turn to be the judge for the Panasonic People’s Choice Award. Just select three of your favourite images below, and place your vote.

Every year, more…

Alastair Jamieson

From the lookout…

Cameron McGeorge

Cameron McGeorge…

Cameron McGeorge

Once privately o…

Dave Buckton

A constellation …

David Steer

On the west coas…

Jason Hosking

A short climb ov…

Lola Wright

Experimenting wi…

Mark Gee

Rock sculpted by…

Neil Silverwood

An early winter …

Rob Suisted

Rob Suisted was …

Rob Suisted

On a helicopter …

Takashi Tsuneizumi

Only when the ti…

Terry Urban

Words appear and…

Terry Urban

At 11.26pm, the …

Jason Hosking

Last winter, Wel…

John Kitching

Though it was mi…

Michelle Durrant

After a new entr…

Neil Silverwood

At the Winter Ga…

Peter Meecham

Sunlight had not…

Takashi Tsuneizumi

Seeking to captu…

Tony Whitehead

The eastern hori…

Yan Zhanh

Zhi Yuen Yap’s p…

Zhi Yuen Yap

Towards the end …

Alasdair Turner

During the last …

Andrew Stewart

Carmelite nuns l…

Cam McLaren

As part of a Fai…

Chris Skelton

When Danial Erik…

Danial Eriksen

Every three year…

Neil Silverwood

Over the last tw…

Peter Meecham

More than a deca…

Tatsiana Chypsanava

Up to 650 pilot …

Tim Cuff

In March 2017, p…

Andy Jackson

When it rains, C…

Arno Gasteiger

Brad Cameron lea…

Ben Sanford

Assigned to cove…

Dean Purcell

Wandering downto…

Dustin McNeilage

The day after a …

Iain McGregor

Iain McGregor wa…

Iain McGregor

During the first…

Joseph Johnson

The First XV rug…

Kai Schwoerer

Lawrence Smith m…

Lawrence Smith

Winston Peters c…

Lawrence Smith

Duckshooter Andy…

Mark Mitchell

Possum patties w…

Michael Craig

Papakura High Sc…

Mike Scott

Gerald Lim’s pla…

Gerald Lim

Night falls at C…

Mark Gee

“A rockpool may …

Mark Gee

Snow doesn’t era…

Sam Deuchrass

Commuters travel…

Stephen Patience

A sequence of 33…

Steven Harrison

New Zealand fur …

Alex Stammers

Chris Helliwell …

Chris Helliwell

A kōtare emerges…

Chris Helliwell

gating flotsam f…

Crispin Middleton

A dense ‘meatbal…

Darryl Torckler

Australasian bit…

Imogen Warren

The lid of a hok…

Irene Middleton

A drop of water …

Joanne Ottey

In January 2017,…

Joseph Johnson

Cold Dunedin mor…

Murray McCulloch

Usually living a…

Paul Caiger

Simon Runting ha…

Simon Runting

Skua are the sca…

Thomas Burns

EXHIBITIONS

The Photographer of the Year exhibition will be on-site at Cathedral Square, Christchurch, for a month from Saturday 4 November, and in a special exhibition at Auckland Museum from December 15 until the end of February. Both exhibitions are open seven days, and free to attend.

AWARDS

NIKON PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Chosen from amongst all entrants, the winning portfolio demonstrates skills, consistency and creative insights that make for quality visual storytelling. It rewards originality and competence across all the images entered, and the ability to reveal a fresh perspective on our land or people.

TAMRON YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The young photographer is chosen from all entrants under the age of 25 on September 30, 2015, and like Photographer of the Year, the quality of the entire portfolio of entered images is considered.

PANASONIC PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Visitors can vote on finalist images at the Photographer of the Year exhibitions in Auckland and Christchurch and on the New Zealand Geographic website. Public votes are tallied across the exhibition season in time for the awards night.

RESENE COLOUR AWARD

A special award that recognises special vision in the use of colour where it contributes to the success of the image. This award is chosen from amongst all entrants.

CATEGORIES

DJI AERIAL

The DJI aerial category celebrates the art of aerial photography, be it from planes, helicopters or drones. Judges will be looking for images that defy the old visions from above and bring innovation and new perspectives of our landscapes and life.

PANASONIC LUMIX TIMELAPSE

Using the technologies of timelapse or hyperlapse, explore an aspect of New Zealand’s environment or society. Judges will be looking for how the winner uses time to reveal the subject in a fresh way.

RESENE LANDSCAPE

Showcase the wonders of New Zealand—its mountains, wetlands, coasts and plains. The judges will be looking for attention to light and drama.

PROGEAR PHOTOSTORY

A set of four to six images. Judges will be looking for the quality of the images overall, as well as how they work together to tell a story.

MICROSOFT SURFACE WILDLIFE

Capture an animal or groups of animals in their natural environment. We are looking for images that exude life and show behaviour or adaptations that make the animal unique.

EPSON SOCIETY & CULTURE

This category celebrates the traditions and relationships of all New Zealanders. The winning entry will be an image that captures our identity as a people.